New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-30
THE PRIZE FUND EXHIBITION.

The Prize Fund exhibition which opened at the Ameri,
can Art Galleries yesterday has, usual, drawn out
much strong from both the older and the younger
artists usual also 1t has been necessary to MI the
walls by the acceptance Of many pictures which are com
monplace and Several painters like Messrs
f. D. Mllet. Samuel Colman, e. II. Blashfield, C. II.
Davis Robert Blum, W. f. Norton, Richard PAUL. and
Childe Hassam have sent to this exhibition the most
important pictures which they have shown this year.
Messrs. ID. w-Tryon, Il Swain Clifford and Arthur
Parton have sent nothing to recent exhibitions OF
better quality than their pictures here. Mr DIN L.
Warner exhibits his DIANA" the loyeliest piece or
sculpture seen in New-Yorl exhibitions for many day.
Several new artists make their bow TO public among
them Mr. william L. Dodge, whose work, uneven as II Is,
will be found TO be full OF promise These are some OF
the stronger features but the exhibition is one OF ex-
tremes and although only 2i2 paintings and examples
OF sculpture accepted out OF over 800 the number
OF reflections might have been advantageousy increased
Yet the exhibition is interesting one, and although
II be termed fully representative the discriminate
ing observer will find much to encourage confidence III
American art
IT'S understood that the two pictures which will he
purchased $1,000 each selected by committee
OF the gentlemen who have contributed their money for
this purpose The purpose is so evidently laudable ana
the generosity OF these contributors cheerful spot III
the arid waste OF everyday seishness that II is dis
appointment 10 find their generosity in one instance
injudicously directed The two pictures chosen are
will 20 TO the Union League Club and Broad Acres, By
Mr. Edward Gay, which will be presented 10 the Metro
politan Museum of Art The former choice We think,
will be generally approved. Mr.. Daviss picture Is ono
OF delicate tones and admirably rendered distance,
view OF gray marshes with river in the middle distance
winding backward, few bare trees on the right wall
OF blue hills the horizon and above In an ndeter
inmate sky, mountainous cumulus cloud rejecting the
glory Of the sunset He has painted landscape bleachcd
by frost yet free from snow, presumably In tie very
early spring. and his cooring like his subject Is neutra
and subdued without decided character and much in
need OF the accent afforded by the cloud Yet this phase
70 given with freshness and TRUTH the feeling
Of the cool atmosphere wei saf
with great intelligence Mr. Davis's work is not usually
peculiar charm and this picture has not the of
positive strength seen In some other examples. eir
inness has painted this with subtety but
Mr. Davis has not sought refined aerial effects and t
enough to say he has succeeded in the treatment
Tch he subject and devoid OF the Incidents which
arrest popular attention. but individual characterized
by truth and possessed of much delicate beauty. Mr.
Gays landscape is truthful in conventional way but It
viii hardly be called either individual or strikingy
beautiful year since the artist attained some
degree of success with picture OF salt marshes which
conveyed feeling OF AND h
low sky line, and an overplns OF sky In tins case no
has IS Yellow and
cloud shadows there road shaded by trees running
Introduced and there is house somewhere beyond with
trees and irregular country In the distance Tho
exception OF welrendered distance and the evident at
there nothing which appeals especially to the observer
The subject may interest some familiar with such sub
ecs but the art OF the picture Is not important There
Is little beauty OF color force OF execution, positive
sentiment in this yet no, to be s eassed a "a
individual landscapes what q Meyer Won Bremen Is To
sae saaSpe 81 the repssac
wholesome. but not the sort OF work which would
an effort which credtable to the painter, and IL
American art in general Is not greatly encouraged by
amecan artist w who has proved himself faithful and
dgent in his devotion to his craft The oelecton of his
picture fora prize makes necessary closer scrutiny than
would otherwise be given to work which at least
shows honestness and earnestness although 1t falls
tees choice will cause much surprise than would
have been occasicned by the selection Of any OF tho
had opportunity to encourage good American
dr has selecting M
S % be s d w the
We should like to speak of other pictures hch invite
like Mr.. Mllets superbly painted Difficult
earnest Death Of MinhehaRa" an American subject
sTCSs sfSnE ssFs % %eHaaf n
serious and admirable work OF its class, Mr.. Blums
OG Mr. aS aad still @ M
Ss adTe MAKING as picture Of no%sy S
lent rendering Of twilight ah%ospGsre in wssGm
Of the movement OF crowd well of the convention
al tones OF Deppe, Mr. Denmans color scheme and
pictures by Messrs. L. r. Green, Ulrich, Alexander,
PAUL.. whose landscape has strength well a family
likeness TO Daubgny Melchers, REIN, sheppard Curran
and OF others There of the big empty
canvases stamped with foreignlrademarks like those Of
Messrs Ponfold, Moss and Fox, and there are some
number Is not large In sculpture Mr. Hartley has
ceeded his strength In attempt called Satan Van
quished," Mr. George A. Bssel sends quiet natural
stic portrait statue OF Union officer, and there arc
groups by Messrs. Echter and kemeys with sketch
by Mr. Donoghue. Altogether the exhibition is certainly
interesting and 1t will be found to contain merely
varied showing OF our artists work. but great deal
which Is OF positive merit, although il comparisons were
worth while, should hesitate to rank this exhibition
as entirely equal TO its predecessors